ELEMIS PRO- COLLAGEN CLEANSING BALM

I'm so excited to be in Aspen for the Aspen Shorts Fest as one of the short films Dronemovie.co.uk, my husband wrote, directed and we produced through our company Third Man Films has been selected to show here! Aspen was always one of my dream destinations. I just loved the idea of huge mountains, log cabins and Apres ski in the form of hot tubs and hot chocolate. Aspen is everything I thought it would be and more.

Everyone here is so welcoming and says hello to you in the streets and coming from London where all eye contact is to be avoided, it did feel very alien but a couple of days in quite lovely! As well as feeling like you are being bear hugged by cuddly awe inspiring mountains, as they surround the town being 8,000 ft above sea level the air is very dry here. The air is delicious and clean but with not much moisture my beauty routine has been taken up a notch.

I brought  along with me Elemis' new Pro- Collagen Cleansing Balm, www.timetospa.co.uk, which I like to call a 'spa in a jar', as it smells like being on a therapy bed in an Elemis Spa being smothered with warm fragrant oils..... amazing. As well as it's heady aroma, it's packed with precious starflower, elderberry oils with decadent rose and mimosa waxes that melt onto the skin removing make up and leaving skin feeling nourished and soft. You can also use the balm as a treatment mask for 10 mins to leave you feeling deeply relaxed and the skin feeling soothed. Between the mountains and this mask I've been floating about Main Street (yes it's really called Main Street, it's like the town from It's a Wonderful Life here, it's soooo fabulous I love it here).

To lock in the moisturise my trusted Creme de La Mer, The Moisturising Soft Cream, www.cremedelamer.co.uk, also made it on the trip here with me. I have combination skin but as I'm in my mid 30s now I still need moisture and some anti-aging help but minus the grease. The soft cream really delivers as it leaves my skin feeling soft, silky and radiant and is also a great base for make up, with a Mr whippy, buttery texture I love pressing into the skin. Enjoy!

BOBBI BROWN SHEER FINISH PRESSED POWDER IN WARM CHESTNUT

Finally the beauty gods have answered my prayers with Bobbi Brown's new Sheer Finish Pressed Powder. As you all know I'm a huge Bobbi Brown fan- the make up leaves you looking like you but just better- without being drag-a-licious and the quality and range of colours for all skin tones is fabulous.

Now I've never been a big fan of powders because 1. they always looked too ashy on my darker skin tone and 2. I do love a dewy glow to the skin but I was really shocked and pleasantly surprised with the colour extensive of this iconic pressed powder. As you beauty junkies may know basic brown was the darkest shade the powder came in. I was always happy that Bobbi gave a nod to having a powder to darker shades as many other brands don't. However, with the new shades golden brown and warm chestnut for the first time ever I questioned whether these shades may actually be wait for it - too dark for me! That's a first people.

The powder is finely milled and silky and just adds a touch of polish to your foundation. It won't settle into lines or leave you looking like Bette Davis in, "Whatever happened to Baby Jane". It makes me feel very grown up and pulled together after having a light sweep of the warm chestnut applied all over my face. If you too are a bit put off with powders, as you feel as a make up artist once said to me like a chocolate truffle i.e. all matte and powdery, a la Naomi Campbell in the 90s with that the heavy natural look. Instead reach for this compact it will rock your beauty world. Enjoy!

LANCOME TEINT VISIONNAIRE AND ALEX BABSKY

Growing up I loved movies and make up. So for me my rock and roll stars were and still are make up artists. To this day I get very excited when I meet my make up heroes and I had so much fun filming with the fabulous make up artist and Lancome's UK Make- Up Ambassador Alex Babsky. Lancome has just launched their latest foundation with the most delicious skin care benefits enriched with Vitamin CG that help to not only conceal but correct your skin imperfections such as dark spots, pores and wrinkles. The foundation comes in a rather nifty 2 parts with a mirror and concealer on the top half and a liquid foundation on the bottom half. The fact it comes in 18 shades (I'm shade number 13 lucky for me) makes me want to cry. Finally major brands are realising that catering to everyone is what it's all about. I'm turning 35 this year and the fact that the past 18 months has been the first time in my life I have had a wardrobe of foundations all in my shade without having to mix and get the correct 2-3 shades is shocking and both a relief. I say BRAVO Lancome and congrats on a really innovative and fabulous new foundation. Check out the films below to get Alex's top tips on how to choice the perfect shade for your skin tone, apply foundation and also conceal and perfect your skin using the new Teint Visionnaire!

STUDIO LINE MATT & MESSY

If like me you are a child of the 80s you will remember stu stu studio line! Along with the Bourjois make up TV ads, these all formed part of my formative beauty years. The past few months have been super fun and busy with lots of filming with my production and creative agency www.couturecommunications.com. I was so excited to be working with the very latest generation of Studio Line products Matt & Messy, which has just launched. We have created a series of films on how to create the latest A- List looks using the new line. Check out the films below on how to create a messy bun and messy updo for your very own red carpet A-list moment.



How to Create a Messy Bun 

How to Create a Messy Up Do

BUTTER LONDON STARKERS LACQUER COLLECTION

I do love all things nails. When I say love I mean it. I have even bled..like real blood in my love and pursuit of fabulous nail art. Back in the day in the 90s when I was in school my friend and I went to the Odeon to see a movie. She had just received- by post a nail piercing kit from some kind aunt in the US (this was before internet shopping people). I was so excited to give it go I made her pierce my nail with a sharp mental drill in the back of the cinema in the dark (why do you have zero common sense as a teen), anyway after some bleeding and screams I had my first nail piercing on a perfect 90s french manicure thank you very much. 

A couple of decades on and piercings aside and post footballers wives french manicures I still do love a nude nail. Butter London one of my favourite nail ranges are launching the Starkers Lacquer Collection, www.butterlondon.com, with 3 nudes. I could literally kiss them, as often when people launch nudes there ain’t nothing for me to create hot mannequin nails. However, the new collection have a light creme, soft beige and warm tan, I would happily wear any of them but it’s a pleasant surprise that all skin tones have been thought of. The same goes for tights, it’s much better today but you have a look for nude tights for darker skin tones, they are hard to come by and if they are good enough for Kate Middleton....... anyway grab yourself a bottle for pain free chic nails. 

CHRISTMAS HOLLYWOOD RETRO CURLS

Oh I do love this time of year when it's icy cold and your sparkley outfits come out from the back of your cupboard and the slap goes on for parties and dos. If you want to get glamourous hair (remember the Texan adage the higher the hair the closer to God) I love that have a look at the film we produced at Couture Communications for John Frieda on getting Hollywood Retro Curls all super achievable to do by yo' self. Enjoy.

BOBBI BROWN CREAMY MATTE LIP COLOR

Like a pair of killer Louboutins, which make you walk a little bit taller and with a spring in your step, lipstick can also bring out the sex kitten in you. I don’t know what it is but when I pull out a lipstick and slather it on, I feel so grown up like a woman in a Film Noir or Alexis Carrington from Dynasty, all big blow dried hair and ready to kick ass darling. My latest lipstick obsession is Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Matte Lip Color, £18, www.bobbibrown.co.uk. The formula is very 21^st century, which won’t give you 80s flashbacks of matte lipsticks, which left your lips dry and cracked and looking as if you had been eating bowls of salted peanuts all day without drinking anything. Bobbi’s new matte lipstick is creamy and packed full of pigment and leaves lips feeling cushioned and soft, which I love. I’m wearing the Crushed Plum and Razzberry, which look great on darker skin tones and the True pink and Warm Beige look like they will become instant classics. Grab one today!

LES TWIN- SETS DE CHANEL

Ok, that naughty Peter Philips, Creative Director of Chanel Make up has only gone and done it again. He's gotten me all excited about his latest creation for Anna Wintour's Vogue Fashion Night 2012. These 3 matching limited edition Rouge Allure Velvet lip colours ( a mind blowing modern texture that you really do need in your life- believe) and matching nail colours are the height of sophistication and have me feeling like a Hitchcock Heroine, a grown up womanly kind of beauty- very pulled together. The autumnal plum shade La Provocante has my name all over it, while I do love the vibrant pop of pink of L'Infidele, which is a less obvious choice for my skin tone but works just as well. The creamy beige of La Delicate has modern classic and the touch of the Rouge Noirs written all over it. Grab your Les Twin-sets de Chanel exclusively at Chanel boutiques from this September and remember pearls are optional but oh such a good look!

MAMA GOT HER GLOW BACK

Back in the day I used to be able to party all night (on a podium bumping and grinding I might add thank you very much) and the next day I would look as fresh as daisy all shiny and taut and glossy- like only a 19 year old can look and by the way I never appreciated this fact at the time. I used to slick on a touch of MAC's Face and Body Foundation (a mere whisper of a sheer foundation used and loved by celebs- very good as body make up and on legs too). Alas these days are gone. While in Topshop (where I know I have no business shopping these days),  I look at the little batty riders and sigh for my days in the sun. A decade and a half later, after twin girls and running my business as well as writing mama needs a little more help to look all glowy and fresh faced. People can become delusional over many things whether it's doing dad dancing at a wedding thinking you look like the dog's bullocks, pulling on those jeans from 1999 while breathlessly saying, " it will fit,  it will fit. For me my delusions are totally beauty related. Until recently, I was still looking at the light weight mositurisers that I used to wear  until at 4am the other night during a nappy change I caught sight of my tired reflection, which was a huge wake up call to get with the programme and up the power and potency of my skincare. I love a good serum me it's like a facial cocktail of goodness to help strengthen and treat the skin before the protecting and cocooning nature of a moisturiser. With my 30s "not in denial" skincare hat on I'm lovin' Chanel's Hydra Beauty Serum, it has a velvety decadent texture and harnesses the protective power of the antioxidant blue ginger, which feels very grown up and leaves the skin looking very uniform and soothed. Clarins Hydraquench Intensive Serum Bi-phase also leaves my skin feeling very dewy and plump. I also have to give a shout out to Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Eye Recovery complex. This is fab if you want some anti- aging protective properties but like me you a combination skin type as the gel texture feels like it's doing something without being too gloopy and sticky. Finally, nothing spells healthy skin like glossy, glowing skin and I love L'Oreal Paris Youth Code Luminize Super Serum for helping my skin find it's inner light. The best products make you feel like you are blessed with Kate Moss cheekbones and every little turn of your face catches the light and spits back a sexy glow.  Fabulous! Check out the film below my company Couture Communications, www.couturecommunications.com produced of the Behind the Scenes L'Oreal Paris Youth code shoot.

BACK TO THE FUTURE BEAUTY

As you all know I'm a film nut. Mama loves films and beauty and as it's been chucking it down, I've been looking at loads of movies at home all snuggled up. I love sci-fi and watched 'Total " consider it a divorce " Recall', 'The Fifth Element' and 'Bladerunner' the other day. All these films have amazing fantasy beauty moments in there, which I hope beauty companies will be inspired to create.

Back in the day I remember looking at Star Trek (yes I am a Trekkie I love the special effects make up and outfits and the way it allows you to look at our humanity through the guise of alien civilisations and the distance of intergalatic space) thinking my God could you imagine reading the entire works of Shakespeare off a tablet device like they did in Deep Space Nine in the 90s. I'm now writing this blog on my IPAD- job done people -  as Disney said, "if you can dream it you can do it". 

Anyway I'm dreaming of the day like in 'The Fifth Element' you can pick up a Chanel visor and hold it up to your eyes and it spray paints on a full eye look. For me that's one of the highlights of the whole film, I remember watching it for the first time and thinking OMG can you imagine......I also love the bit in 'Total Recall', where the secretary at the memory implantation centre - Total Recall - sits bored changing her nail polish by a flick of a computer mouse-like pen, which electronically changes the colour of your nails. We have magnetic nail polish - so how long will it be before we can paint our nails with a computer chip or something that downloads any colour or design you want? Lord have mercy it's so exciting...

I have thick Afro hair, which takes forever to blow dry and anyone with curly hair will know what I'm talking about when I say it's a pain the arm doing it. In 'Bladerunner', my fantasy beauty moment comes in the form of the replicant andriod lady, who is hiding out as an exotic stripper with a snake (stay with me) - anyway she goes from a full greased up slicked down ponytail to a full on Charlie's Angels Farrah Fawcett blow out  - just by stepping inside a full body blowdry pod.

Again my mouth was left open at the thought of just standing in a blow dry machine that can do that. I love beauty and I love to get my technie geek on and when they combine and collide I get very excited. Will all this technology in beauty, which I'm sure is coming, spell the end of make up artists and manicure bars? I don't think so. No matter how advanced we get with technology - to have a bespoke one on one experience with another human being will always be valued and that's what makes us human and not aliens or androids. 

You can't have a discussion on Madonna's nipple flash or whether Ri- Ri will really take back Chris Brown (allegedly?????) Saying all that I can't wait to see what the beauty future holds and what my baby twin girls will be doing when they are my age and I'm applying a liquid liner by hand, which they will roll their eyes up and say, "Oh mum that's so old school, get with the programme let us hook you up"! Bless!

MOLTEN METALS

Excuse me, how hot is it????? I’m sorry but I can’ t stand it when London gets this hot. One bit of sun and people think it’s acceptable to strip and flash their flesh. The amount of bellies and people’s bits and pieces in thongs out, is quite unsettling and that’s just the middle aged men (who quite frankly should know better). Also when travelling on public transport it feels like you're being punished in some dramatic yet creative Greek mythological way, for crimes you have committed but you can’t work out what those crimes are. You end up feeling like the guy from the amazing Korean thriller 'Oldboy', where you have the pleasure of being tormented trying to figure out your crimes, while caged and trapped- in our case in an underground broken down tube carriage, which is as hot as Hades. For me nothing beats a snowy day with Diptyque's Feu de Bois  candle burning in the background with that crisp cold scent in the air, that tickles your lungs when you breathe it in and it feels like you’ve just done a shot of something, as it snakes its way around your body. Ahhhhhh

The one good thing about these hot days is molten metals. I love metallic golds, bronzes and khakis that look like they've been forged in fire or as if you left a gold bullion bar out in the sun, it melted and then you smeared it across your eyes….FAB.U.LAS. These molten metals may feel very A/W my season of choice but their smouldering sexiness also looks great while out on hot sticky nights.

On my nails I’m loving Chanel’s new Nail Polish in Delight, it looks like I’ve dipped my nails in a very expensive gold leaf. I love the fact it looks a bit rose gold against my dark skin rather than that angry Dictator’s wife gaudy gold gold – you know what I mean. Tom Ford’s latest Spring/ Summer Collection is also rocking the look with their shimmering chocolatey Burnt Topaz nail Lacquer and Cream Color for eyes in Illicit, a delicious burnished red, which screams glamour and has a touch of studio 54. I’ve also been slicking on Maybelline’s Color Tattoo a gel eyeshadow, which really doesn’t budge (fab if you are indeed on the tube or dancing on a table with a cocktail in your hands) in Eternal Gold or On and On Bronze.

To create even more sexy heat and smokiness around the eyes to make your molten metals pop the genius that is make up artist Charlotte Tilbury, who can be seen back stage at fashion week told me once to put some warm chocolate brown liner on the lower lash line, as this creates a hot-ness that Brazilian girls naturally have and it really pulls the look together. I love Clinique's Quickliner for eyes Intense in Intense Chocolate, as it's not ashy on my skin and has a deep rich cocoa colour. Give it a go for a smoking hot look.

P.S I love this shot from ‘Oldboy’,  he looks like he’s about to go nuts and lose it, like he’s been stuck on the tube for hours but it’s uncanny my hair looks like this after sticky weather. Nice.  

THE BODY SHOP - BEAUTY WITH HEART

Whenever I think of The Body Shop I get a warm fuzzy glow inside. We have all grown up with this very sincere and British brand that not only has loads of heart and a social consciousness. Their recent campaigns in helping to stop sex trafficking as well as helping communities around the world is what beauty is all about feeling and being beautiful from the inside out. On top of all that the products also really deliver and have iconic status, such as their lip smacking Body Butters to the fruity shower gels such as Fuzzy Peach and Green Apple that take me straight back to the 6th form in school listening to Blur and Oasis in the common room. Other happy Body Shop memories I have was when I meet my husband in the first year of university at 19 and I saw that he had their Passionfruit Cleansing Gel in his bathroom - I thought yes I can date this man - 15 years and twin baby girls later - the thought of it still makes me smile.

So last week when I was invited to attend and also filmed with my production company Couture Communications, www.couturecommunications.com at The Body Shop's massive global launch to announce their first ever Brand Ambassador Lily Cole I was beyond excited. The launch was held to celebrate and talk about their new Beauty with Heart Campaign, which Lily will be heading up and it's a movement inviting us all to - "Look Good, Feel Good and Do Good"- it was very inspiring. The launch was held at the Old Sorting Office in WC1 in the heart of London and was literally huge as the 120,000 square foot space was turned into a mad Willy Wonka style fun playground with all things The Body Shop. I had loads of fun playing in the Look Good room at the Shimmer Cube wall where you could custom make your own eyeshadow palettes with the help with the fabulous Chase Aston, The Body Shop's celebrity make up artist. At the Feel Good room there were hand massages with the wide array of different body butters and in the Do Good room we learned all about the campaigns and work we all can do to help make a difference. Well Done! Take a look at the film below to get a sneak peek of the launch.

BOBBI BROWN POT ROUGE FOR LIPS AND CHEEKS

I didn't think Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks, £18, www.bobbibrown.co.uk could get any better but it just did! This iconic multi-use cream blush, which can also be used on the lips, for a pigment rich yet balmy stain, has had a facelift, so to speak with new handbag friendly packaging. The Pot rouges now come in a sleek compact with a mirror - perfect for touch ups. One of Bobbi's favourite tricks is to add a fresh pop of blush to the apples of the cheeks at 4pm, when you not only feel like you're flagging, but your make up might be too. I'm loving the Chocolate Cherry and Raspberry shades, which looks great and very natural on darker skin tones. Calypso Coral looks amazing on sunny Cameron Diaz-esque blondes, English roses should grab the Power Pink shade while Pale Pink and Uber Beige looks beautiful on most skin tones. Kate Middleton is rumoured to be a Pale Pink blush fan. Now the sun is shining, cream blushes will add a touch of Spring/ Summer to your make up look. Enjoy!

ELIZABETH ARDEN 8 HOUR CREAM PARTY AND NEW LAUNCHES

Last night on the 8th (get it 8 for 8 hour cream) Elizabeth Arden celebrated their truly iconic handbag staple loved my millions of women around the world. A sultry New York night was re-created at the fabulous Grade II listed townhouse 29 Portland Place, otherwise known as my fantasy home, with a New York Jazz band and a rather impressive 7 ft ice sculpture of the statue of  Liberty. The townhouse was packed full of celebs such as Holly Valance and her engagement ring- teardrop and it's so huge it could land planes with a delicate wave of her hand, Tamara Ecclestone, Trinny Woodall, Zara Martin and Tolula Adeyemi. We nibbled on mini waldorf salads and drank cosmos, as it was announced that after 82 years of the formula of 8 hour cream not being changed a new fragrance free version in new packaging is being launched, as well as a new handbag size version (genius). The distinctive fragrance I feel is a bit like marmite you either love it or hate it- but it's great there's a choice now. I chatted to super sweet and very well brought up Amber Atherton from Made in Chelsea (her skin is ridiculously plump and glowy) who said she loved the original scent, as it was really comforting as her mother and grandmother both use 8 hour cream.

I also caught up with the lovely Rachel Singer Clark, Elizabeth Arden's celebrity make up artist who created Holly Valance's make up look for the night. Holly looked really fresh and glowy and Rachel gave me her insider tips as she uses 8 hour cream twice on the lips, once before she puts any make up on to hydrate and then again afterwards to add a gloss. She also uses 8 hour cream to tame brows and on eyelashes before curling them for added bend.

It was fabulous night and here's to another 80 years of 8 hour cream!

RODIAL 'BEAUTIFUL' AWARDS 2012

Last night I was lucky enough to attend and film at Rodial Founder Maria Hatzistefanis'- Rodial Beautiful Awards at the Sanderson Hotel with my digital production company Couture communications, www.couturecommunications.com. The Sanderson was packed with wall to wall celebs such as presenters and winners Yasmin Mills, Julian Mcdonald, Kelly Hoppen, Zara Martin, Elle Mcpherson, uber make up artist Charlotte Tilbury and Whitney "The Hills" Port. I got to chat to Whitney and interviewed her, she looked amazing in Julian Mcdonald. I had to fight the urge to chat to her like I knew her as I lovvved "The Hills" but I resisted the urge. She showed me the contents of her bag as she loves Rodial's Glam Balm.

I also chatted with the ridiculously warm and funny Yasmin Le Bon who won an award for Classic Beauty. The woman looks amazing and natural and is super cool. I asked her if she did Voodoo to keep herself looking so good! I also met the legend that is Elle Mcpherson, who didn't disappoint as well as being everything you would imagine and more she was stunning, switched on and fabulous. When we took a photo together she went into full on supermodel mode and was busting some looks. I was totally blown away she's a true icon (p.s. having your picture taken with Elle Mcpherson is not for the faint hearted people).

I also chatted to Kelly Hoppen and asked her how she kept her curls looking so glossy and defined and soft, all the ladies reading with curly hair will know what I'm talking about and she told me her secret was Kevin Murphy products, www.kevinmurphystore.com. I love Kevin's Leave-in.Luxury conditioner, which is fantastic and nourishing for frizzy, thick hair.

Thank you Maria for a wonderful evening!

WHAT'S IN MY HANDBAG.COM

Hi guys,
While I was filming backstage in Milan I was really honoured to be interviewed for What's in my Handbag.com. Check out the full interview and the inner workings of my handbag on the links below!

http://www.whatsinmyhandbag.com/bag/156

http://blog.whatsinmyhandbag.com/2012/02/day-in-lifeateh-jewel.html?utm_source=Ateh-Jewel&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=ateh-jewel

DAY 2 LFW A/W 12 HOUSE OF HOLLAND AND KINDER AGGUGINI

Ok so it's Day 2 of LFW and we have a bevy of beauty treats already. Today I was at House of Holland at the opulent Goldsmiths Hall, which was literally pimped out and dripping in chandeliers and Kinder Aggugini at Somerset House. I love Henry Holland as well as being very warm, friendly and sweet (every time I meet him I think your family should be very proud- they raised you right) the boy loves him some beauty. His regular beauty dream team of Adam Reed for Babyliss, Lucia Pica for MAC and Sophy Robson for Leighton Denny (check out Sophy's own nails she's rocking an illustration by Will Broome) whipped up a cool look girls will be attempting in the mirror tonight- I guarantee!

I loved the MAC matte statement red lip, which had laser sharp precision with a pronounced cupid's bow and Sophy worked her magic on the nails, custom blending a blue grey and pink base colour, which she layered a houndstooth print on top of which was inspired by a print in the collection.

Fresh from his fabulous Kate Moss inspired hair from yesterday's Felder Felder show,  the super talented and super sweet Adam Reed hit it out the park again with his look, which he described as 'Ride in the countryside hair' influenced by Barbara from 'The Good Life' with all her buttoned down sauciness. He created the look using his magic Babyliss wand and created a texture he calls 'the Kick', which was created by tonging the hair and using hairspray on the fingers to tease the hair into a tousled loveliness you only dream of. The hair was swept across the face and tied in a ponytail in the nape of the neck.

At Kinder, Sharon Dowsett who is one of my favourite people in Beauty created a stunning look with a blinged out a lip using Maybelline inspired by an Old granny handbag and some of Kinder's glittery shoes. AMaybelline tea rose fleshy lipstick was used as the base and MAC 3D glitter was placed on top with some Swaroski crystals layered in the look to add the appearance of chunks of glitter.

The super creative Malcolm Edwards for L'Oreal Professionnel turned out a beautiful look inspired by contradictions with a naive charm with a masculine twist in the front and feminine in the back with the hair sectioned into 3, using some L'Oreal Techni Art Reconstructor and Serum then snag free hair bands were used to created loops throughout the ponytail before they were tied together with some elastics, it looks extremely intricate and like origami on acid - loved it!

Stay tuned for Day 3 ............

xxx